American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) Research Coverage Started at Jefferies Financial Group

Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) in a research note released on Friday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm issued a hold rating and a $107.00 price target on the stock.

Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Guggenheim increased their price objective on American Electric Power from $81.00 to $83.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, July 22nd. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded shares of American Electric Power from a sell rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $73.00 to $86.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 6th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on American Electric Power from $105.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, September 9th. Barclays upped their price objective on American Electric Power from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on American Electric Power from $95.00 to $102.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $96.00.

American Electric Power Trading Up 0.4 %

AEP opened at $102.53 on Friday. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $98.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $91.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a current ratio of 0.65. The company has a market cap of $54.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.02, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.54. American Electric Power has a one year low of $69.38 and a one year high of $105.18.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The company reported $1.25 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.23 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $4.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.74 billion. American Electric Power had a net margin of 13.52% and a return on equity of 11.31%. American Electric Power’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.13 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that American Electric Power will post 5.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.

American Electric Power Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 9th were issued a $0.88 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 9th. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.43%. American Electric Power’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 65.31%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Clearbridge Investments LLC lifted its stake in American Electric Power by 23.4% in the 4th quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 29,235 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,374,000 after buying an additional 5,549 shares in the last quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC lifted its position in shares of American Electric Power by 1.9% in the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 158,942 shares of the company’s stock valued at $12,909,000 after acquiring an additional 2,961 shares in the last quarter. Trexquant Investment LP boosted its stake in shares of American Electric Power by 1,162.2% during the fourth quarter. Trexquant Investment LP now owns 46,789 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,800,000 after acquiring an additional 43,082 shares during the last quarter. Dai ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd increased its position in American Electric Power by 619.6% during the 4th quarter. Dai ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd now owns 34,842 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,830,000 after purchasing an additional 30,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in American Electric Power by 46.7% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,331 shares of the company’s stock valued at $271,000 after purchasing an additional 1,060 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.24% of the company’s stock.

About American Electric Power

American Electric Power Company, Inc, an electric public utility holding company, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity for sale to retail and wholesale customers in the United States. It operates through Vertically Integrated Utilities, Transmission and Distribution Utilities, AEP Transmission Holdco, and Generation & Marketing segments.